It’s never easy for a hockey player to accept he’s so close but not quite ready to make the team.

Corban Knight who was acquired by the Calgary Flames last summer and immediately given a big-league sweater number (10) is able to accept his situation.

After all when Knight was assigned to the AHL Abbotsford Heat on Thursday it was with the words the GM Jay Feaster and head coach Bob Hartley expect him to return soon and be a full-time NHLer.

“Jay and Bob made it very clear this isn’t a negative it’s part of the process” Knight said from Abbotsford. “They were happy with how camp went and believed it’s better for me to come here and work to get better.